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Ever since former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stated his belief that President Obama does not love America, Republicans have distanced themselves from his remark and anonymous callers have left death threats.
Giuliani made his controversial remark at a private dinner in Manhattan featuring Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. During the dinner Walker did not refer to Giuliani’s words, but on Saturday Walker told the AP that he did not know whether Obama loved the country or not.
Giuliani told CNN that although the majority of calls about his comments were in agreement, after Politico published his words on Wednesday he has also received a smattering of death threats. He did not tell CNN whether police have been alerted to the threats, and a spokeswoman for the NYPD said on Saturday that the policy of the department was to not release information about potential victims of such threats.
Practically the entire line-up of potential presidential candidates has distanced themselves from Giuliani’s statement.
Kristy Campbell, spokeswoman for Jeb Bush released this statement: Gov. Bush doesn’t question President Obama’s motives. He does question President Obama’s disastrous policies.”
Senator Rand Paul: “I think it’s a mistake to question people’s motives … I don’t question his motives. And I try not to question the president’s motives as being a good American or a bad American.”
Governor of Wyoming Matt Mead: “I think it’s always hard to say what’s inside somebody’s heart or in their mind, and I think the better thing to judge is what the president has done or what he has not done, rather than the motivation he may have.”
Now independent Alaska Governor Bill Walker, who was a Republican until 2013 said: “I think everybody in elected office loves their country.”
Criticism for Giuliani’s remark was voiced by Democratic supporters of the President.
Democratic Governor of Connecticut Dan Malloy, speaking from the White House on Friday afternoon said: “For the number of hours to go by without Rudy Giuliani having called the president to apologize for what is a despicable statement is really quite amazing. Quite frankly, no one in their right mind could question that the president loves his country.
“For candidates for president, or possible candidates for president, who have not rejected outright what Mr. Giuliani said about our president I think speaks volumes about them as well.”
